Victoria Carson’s Post

Have you subscribed to 𝐈𝐧𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 yet? Join us each month for a conversation about a topic important to policing. We've covered constitutional policing, community engagement, training, and more. Dive into previous issues and receive October's issue by subscribing today: https://hubs.li/Q02RRgKV0

Building mutual trust between police and communities is vital. Our Strengthening Police and Community Partnerships programs do just that, fostering a safer environment for all. Discover how these initiatives transform ideas into actionable plans: https://lnkd.in/eFBKcMJq

A few days ago, HiiL | User-friendly Justice organized a very interesting event on community justice solutions. As my dear former professor Meg Satterthwaite, current UN Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, noted, 1.5 billion people lack meaningful access to justice for pressing everyday problems. Usually, this justice gap impacts the most those who are economically and socially disadvantaged. There are not enough judges and lawyers to close this gap, and often, a legal avenue is not even the best strategy to solve numerous issues. As many panellists stressed, instead in focusing only in lawyers and formal judicial systems, we should put people, communities, and their needs at the heart of the justice debate. It is crucial to democratise access to justice and empower communities to lead justice initiatives that can address issues better and strengthen the social fabric.

Well that was brilliant. Here are three key takeaways from our webinar ‘’Unlocking Community Justice Solutions: Scaling up for National Impact.’’ 1. Let's give Community Justice Systems the recognition they deserve. They need support, status, and the jurisdiction to build relevant partnerships. 2. It's time for formal justice systems and personnel to learn from customary and community justice systems. Judges can lead transformative change as system improvers and connectors between communities and the formal system. 3. Scaling up programmes will make them more effective, less expensive in the long run - and will shrink the Justice Gap. A huge thank you to all our amazing speakers: 🗣 Ms Jhoana Delgado Gaitán, Meg Satterthwaite, Tatyana Teplova, PhD, Annette Mbogoh, Hon. Justice Joel Ngugi, Hon. Justice Olugboyega Ogunfowora, Milkii Mekuria, and Sam Muller; as well as our very engaged audience. Stay tuned - we will be sharing an outcomes agenda for action on scaling community justice soon! And we hope to see you all again at the next webinar. #BetterJusticeBetterWorld  

What is community justice? A community- first, person-centred approach tackling the root cause of behaviour. It teaches skills and increases self-worth, resulting in less crime being committed. By keeping people in the community and not isolated from society, they learn, they integrate, and they contribute. 👇

Erie, PA, improved police-community trust and eased tensions with our Strengthening Police and Community Partnerships program. Discover how CRS guided Erie in identifying and executing effective solutions to its challenges: https://lnkd.in/ePGsRinD

Surely this provides better options?

Last night's session of the Community Policing Council in the Foothills Command area was well attended by residents voicing their concerns, with representation from the police command, the mayor's office, and several neighborhood associations. We also learned about the extent of services offered by Goodwill Industries, specifically regarding job training, case management, and housing. A recurring theme of these meetings, held the 2nd Monday of each month from 6-8 pm, is that many of the social issues residents are most concerned about have complex causes that require a nuanced, multifaceted approach beyond police measures. As an example, youth committing crime is best mitigated by expanded opportunities and services geared towards youth, rather than merely increasing policing of youth. Attendees of the meeting are encouraged to speak, regardless of their politics, perspectives, or opinions. The purpose is to engage in dialogue and to come together to find solutions to community issues and to make recommendations to policymakers and legal entities for consideration. The Foothills Command has one opening remaining if you would like to serve on the council. If you live in another district, your local community policing council likely has vacancies. The positions are voluntary. As a council person, I am giving the opportunity to also review complaints filed against police, as well as the responses by the Community Police Oversight Agency. This is a unique opportunity. Not every city offers community members this level of involvement. https://lnkd.in/gayGdkjb

We need multi-door justice delivery. Courts, connected with other mechanisms, that solve justice problems. Community justice mechanisms are a key component. In my conversations with leaders from ministries of justice and judiciaries there are 3 main challenges: scale, ensuring quality, and sustainable funding. In this webinar very valueable insights were shared.

🤝 We recently talked to Pastor Gabriel Dominguez, Associate Pastor at the Methodist Church in City of Waco, TX, in a podcast, where he shared how Faith & Blue events facilitate collaboration and trust between law enforcement and communities. Pastor Dominguez explained, "The events themselves help in two different ways. They either kick off new partnerships between local churches or nonprofits and law enforcement, or they reinforce ongoing collaborations. For us, it reinforced what we were already doing in the community." 🙌 He recalled a memorable moment during a flyer distribution for a local event: "We were knocking on doors in the projects, and I knew many people there. One guy, skeptical at first, saw an officer with me and asked, 'What is he doing here?' I assured him, 'He's with me, bro. We're good.' This man, who had only interacted with police negatively, ended up joining us." This story illustrates how events can break the ice and foster meaningful connections between law enforcement and community members, even in challenging areas. For those looking to enhance their community engagement strategies, the Law Enforcement Community Engagement Network (LECEN) offers invaluable resources. LECEN provides best practices, peer support, industry expertise, and current research for both sworn and non-sworn personnel in community engagement roles across the nation. Join us in building bridges and fostering trust between law enforcement and communities through impactful community events. Discover valuable resources at Law Enforcement Community Engagement Network (LECEN) to enhance collaborations. Visit https://lnkd.in/edzN4B4a for a stronger, safer community. #lecen #buildingconnections #positivechanges #lawenforcement